The Female of the Specie: Tarzan (February 22, 1951)

Tarzan, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“The Female of the Specie” is an episode of Tarzan, the old-time radio show, first broadcast February 22, 1951. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, is approached by a Senegalese warrior named Nurobo, who reports that young men of his tribe are vanishing one by one in the Congo. Tarzan travels north with Nurobo toward the border of Rio de Oro, following a strange song they believe is the call of the Kahali. Along the way, the two are lured by the melody and drugged, and wake as prisoners in a fortress city ruled by women. Tarzan is brought before the city's chief, Consuela del Varos, and must face a vote on whether he will live. The story is part of the Tarzan radio series, adapted from the novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The Congo and the jungles of Africa, including a Pune village, the coast road to Senegal, the border of Rio de Oro, and a hidden fortress city ruled by women.

Characters: Tarzan, Nurobo, Mirabo, Sui, Consuela del Varos, Margherita, Abwana

Listen for: The eerie song of the Kahali and the vote over Tarzan's life in the fortress court.

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.